Maniva Nan-ryu

The Maniva Nen-ryu School was founded by Higuchi Matashichiro in 1591 during the Azuchi-Momoyama period .

The Matashichiro family has its roots in Higuchi Jiro Kanemitsu, one of the four main samurai Kiso Yoshinaka . His descendant, Higuchi Kaneshige, studied Nen-ryu art and served the Hirai family. After the fall of the castle, Hirai Kanesige moves to the village of Maniva , where he develops his knowledge ^[1] .

After several generations, Higuchi Matashichiro, who already had knowledge of the Shinto-ryu style, became interested in the family tradition of studying the Nen-ryu school on the example of his grandfather. He joined the ranks of students of Tomomatsu Seizo Fujiwara Ujimune and studied for 17 years (until 1590) ^[1] . In February 1591, Matashichiro became the 8th head of the Nen-ryu school ^[2] , receiving transmission from Tomomatsu Ujimune. Higuchi Matashichiro reorganized his knowledge by adding techniques for working with naginata (long sword ) and yari (spear) to the Nen-ryu techniques. The updated system was named Maniva Nen-ryu in honor of the village where the Higuchi family lived, and was passed on from generation to generation between family members for more than 400 years ^[3] .

One of the students at the Maniva Nan-ryu school was Samurai Yasubei Nakayama ( Jap. 堀 部 安 兵衛 武 庸 , 1670-1703), who later changed his surname to Horibe in connection with his marriage to the daughter of an influential vassal of the Asano clan and who went down in history under this name about 47 ronin from Aco ^[3] .

Presumably in the 18th century, the methods of the Maniva Nen-ryu school were supplemented with techniques of venomojutsu ( я 留 術 ) - the art of beating arrows with a sword ^{[1] [4]} .

Basically, the school studies kenjutsu (both with katana and odati ), naginatajutsu and sojutsu . In addition, Maniva Nen-ryu is one of the very few schools that teach Yomojutsu.

Maniva Nen-ryu is one of the oldest surviving Japanese martial traditions to date. It is unusual in that throughout its history it was supported and developed by members of a particular village ( Maniva ).

The style is characterized by the use of fukuro-sinai ( 袋 竹刀 п ), quilted gloves and special hats for conducting “kiriwara jiai” - competitions whose participants could test their skills without serious injuries ^[5] . It has not been historically established at what point in time this tradition became an integral part of the school, however, together with the Shinkage-ryu and Yagyu, Shinkage-ryu Maniva Nen-ryu was one of the first schools of Japanese bujutsu that used bamboo weapons for training. This educational tool was further developed at the Nakanishi Itto-ryu school ( Japanese: 中西 派 一刀 流 ), the founder of which is Nakanishi Chuto Tanesada ^[6] , and has become an important element in the establishment of modern sports - kendo . In addition, the Manai Nen-ryu lacks the techniques of Ai ^[1] .

Maniva Nen-ryu is an offshoot of the Nen-ryu school , so its transmission line has its roots from the founder of the latter, the monk Jion ^[7] :

1. Soma Shiro Yoshimoto ( Jap. 相 馬 四郎 義 元 , Nan Ami Jion) - founder of Nen-ryu;
2. Megumi Akamatsu ( 赤松 三 首座 禅師 慈 三 ) is the founder of the Akamatsu style of Nen-ryu, one of the three branches of the Nen-ryu school;
3. Ogasawara Higashiizumi Bokabuto Akira ( Japanese: 小 小 東 泉 房 甲 明 );
4. Ogasawara Shinjiro Ujitsuna ( Jap. 小 笠原 新 次郎 氏 綱 );
5. Ogasawara Bizen Mamorousi Kay ( Japanese: 小 笠原 備 前 守 氏 景 );
6. Ogasawara Zhuang Saemon'nojo ( Japanese: 小 笠原 庄 左衛 門 尉氏 重 );
7. Tomomatsu Seizo Fujiwara Ujimune ( 友 松 清 三 藤原 氏 宗 ) - doctor, wandering monk ^[1] ;
8. Higuchi Matashichiro Sadaji (樋口 定 次 ) - February 1591, founder of Maniva Nen-ryu;
9. Higuchi Yoriyukitsugi ( Japanese樋口 頼 次 ) - brother of Higuchi Matashichiro;
10. Higuchi Sadahisa ( Japanese樋口 定 久 );
11. Higuchi Sadakatsu ( Japanese 樋 口 定 勝 );
12. Higuchi Teynuki ( Japanese樋口 定 貫 );
13. Higuchi Susumojo (樋口 将 定 ) - taught the samurai Yasubei Horibei;
14. Higuchi Sadahide ( Japanese 樋 口 定 暠 ) - a roju under Matsudaira Sadanobu ;
15. Higuchi Sadahiro ( Japanese樋口 定 広 );
16. Higuchi Sadao ( 樋 口 定 雄 ) - opened a dojo in Koisikawa ;
17. Higuchi Sadateru ( Japanese樋口 定 輝 );
18. Higuchi Sadakore ( Jap. 樋 口 定 伊 ) - circa 1800s;
19. Higuchi Sadamedaka (樋口 定 高 ) - built a dojo in Yokohama ;
20. Higuchi Sadahiro ( Jap. 樋 口 定 広 ) - 1867, organized a new training room;
21. Higuchi Sada Tadashi ( 樋 口 定 督 );
22. Higuchi Sadahide ( Japanese 樋 口 定 英 );
23. Higuchi Teishu ( Japanese樋口 定 周 );
24. Higuchi Sadahiro ( Japanese樋口 定 広 );
25. Higuchi Sadahito (樋口 定 仁 ) is the current head of the school since 1998.

• Donn Dräger. Classical Budo. The Martial Arts and Ways of Japan. - 2 ed. - Weatherhill, 2007 .-- T. 2 .-- 128 s. - ISBN 978-0834802346 .
• Diane Skoss. Koryu Bujutsu: Classical Warrior Traditions of Japan. - 1 ed. - New Jersey : Koryu Books, 1997. - T. 1. - 192 p. - ISBN 978-1890536046 .
• Diane Skoss. Keiko Shokon: Classical Warrior Traditions of Japan. - Koryu Books, 2002. - T. 3. - 208 p. - ISBN 978-1890536060 .